East Coast Diary

[Guest]

It's very much a go for broke situation Ian. With things as they are I very much doubt we'll be able to afford boating, certainly not coastal boating, for much more than another 5 years, if that. Rather than look back in 5 years at the experiences we might have had and rue the choice to be cautious, we're just going to go for it now whilst we can still (just about) afford to. We're well aware of the foolishness of buying a new boat before Silver Dream has sold, particularly in this current market, and the possibility that she might remain on the market for another 2 years without a sale, or sell for a pittance, has all been factored in - as has the fuel element. In fact I've been working on figures of £2/ltr for some months now because it's only a matter of time before it happens.

Our best (educated) guess is that the new boat will use double the fuel at 26kts that Silver Dream will at around 10kts but complete the journey in far less time so saving money over all. The reality is that we do not anticipate cruising at 26kts, indeed it is not now nor has it ever been our intention to cruise at that kind of speed. Cruising at around 20kts will take slightly longer but should use less fuel. However you spin it, she'll be cheaper than Silver Dream for coastal cruising and working well within her abilities to maintain our intended cruising speed!

[thirdmate]

Cunning plan this bank hoilday is to leave Neptune on Sat and try and get to west mersea for the regatta.

Problem seems to be getting a mooring at the moment and as we draw 2.2 mtrs sort of limits us a bit but will try to get some piccies of where we do actually end up

Time and tide wait for no man not even a saily !!!

Andrew

[thirdmate]

We could always motor though !!!! Skipper discovered that the donkey only burns around 4ltrs per hour at 6/7 knots (volvo 75hp)

Andy

[pks1702]

Have a good trip Andy - fair winds but not too much

Don't forget a few photo's for the thread if you can

[Antares_9]

The wind’s not looking too good for you at this stage Gordon, predicted sub 10mph for Saturday, might pick up a bit but as you say Mr Volvo can do the job if needs must, I’ve got an MS cone if you want to borrow it.

[pks1702]

though best be sure not to warn the natives or they might disappear off and hide

Don't worry you have to get past this first

[thirdmate]

Well that was fun. Amazing week-end.

Left Neptune around lunchtime ready for a blast down to West mersea, loads of people had decided the same route was for them as we had 15 other boats for company when locking out downriver.

Nice sail down river, had a small panic when I thought somebody had shrunk Antares !!!

reached Felixstowe and our favourite yellow and black bouy (nearly always turn right here) more water down south !!

Had a great sail down to West mersea, even tried the cruising chute in anger for the first time, have to be a touch careful as in anything above 12knts she is liable to turn into shreds.

Reached destination around 16.30 and dropped the hook in the quarters as no mooring bouys available so off in the dinghy for a quick beer at WMYC then back to Eve for dinner and a couple of wines before watching the fireworks, brilliant display must have cost a fortune.

Up a the crack of dawn (well 8.30) very bumpy night but still where we drooped the anchor so must have got that right.

Lazy breakfast as not enough water to get out until lunchtime. While waiting for the tide heard a very distressing mayday call on Ch16 won't go into details but involved MOB off Clacton 2 lifeboats and ASR helo with a bad outcome. Sort of left us feeling a bit helpless and down.

Set off around 12 with a view of getting into Levington for the sun night, by the time we reach our favourite bouy again Levington told us they were full so decided that as Shotely had a berth we would overnite there.

Couple of pics.

[thirdmate]

Really good meal at the shipwreck sunday night

Extra reply as couldn't upload last photo of someones baby fast asleep on monday morning !!!!

Had to up and about fairly early as time and especially tide wait for no boat when you draw over 2 mtrs.

Locked out and went for a beat up the Stour for an hour then about and head off back to neptune for a washdown and brush up.

All in all a really fun week-end.

Andy

[Antares_9]

Sorry to have missed you at Shotley but we had to go home early for a 40th birthday party, itn't it strange how much they shrink as soon as you put them in water :-D

[Guest]

Sounds like an excellent time (except the mayday) and that's one seriously looking boat you have there. Other friends of ours just made it back from there this weekend and were spotted by two forumites on the Orwell who, although not knowing the individuals recognised the boats, and reported their whereabouts to yours truly. And I believe future East Coast excursions found themselves at the planning stage over a pint of Broadside in Lowestoft on Sunday evening.

[pks1702]

Thanks for the update and pictures Andy looks like you had fun.

The food at The Shipwreck is very good at present I am told a big improvement in the last 12 months. The only disappointment to us is that instead of numerous guest beers it is wall to wall Adnams. They did though have a guest one on Saturday :-D

Sorry to have missed you but we had to cut short our weekend as SWMBO had a nasty biopsy on Friday. On Sunday PM she started to feel unwell we think an infection and sadly had to cut short the weekend and depart on Sunday

[pks1702]

The Mayday you indicated did indeed have tragic outcome Andy.

Condolonces to the family.

http://www.burnham-rnli.org.uk/

See 26th August

[pks1702]

With my First Mate taking things easy prior to Surgery David & Rachel kindly invited us for a run out on Kingfisher on Sunday.

SPYC were having a photo session the Commodore was moored on his Catamaran waiting for the yacht to sail serenely by while the assembled Paparazzi took photo's. They had not bargained on Kingfisher and her wash

Fair play the Commodore was game and asked David to get closer

A few snaps from the run out

[Antares_9]

I really can't wait to see those shots, it is quite remarkable just how stable those cats are (fortunately)

[pks1702]

I was amazed when he told us that the angle of heel seldom if ever exceeded 5 degrees on passage making

[thirdmate]

North and South (Up Up & Down Down)

But I am aways confused about East & West

Shock news ?????

As a confirmed saily why am I getting a nice funny feeling about having 2 Mr Volvo's under my feet. Watch this space

Andy

[Antares_9]

Same old story Andy, give a saily a throttle (or worse two) and all hell breaks loose :-D :-D

I will be glued to this space :-D

[Antares_9]

North and South (Up Up & Down Down)

But I am aways confused about East & West

West is waisted Andy, but you knew that

[senator]

And East is an eggbut you knew that too

[pks1702]

After Tina's news we were away on holiday for a couple of weekends prior to her first treatment but did get to our ship this weekend. My crew was feeling a bit better but still very tired so thanks to David & Rachel for 'crewing' for me to allow Kiki a run and spin up her turbo :-D

It was like having a pro crew with David lassoing lock bollards like something from the Wild West and Rachel handy with the roving fender not that not needed it

The forecast was for the wind to increase during the day so we had a quick dart out for an hour and a half and were back in before the wind really got up.

Like two Victorian ladies Rachel & Tina were wrapped up taking the air, until we got out to Languard when the spray over the top stopped that

[Antares_9]

They look more like a pair of burglars in all that striped kit, all that's missing is a sack with swag stencilled on it. :-D

[Guest]

Perry you only took one pic of that trip out SHOCKED!!!! :-D :-D

[pks1702]

Perry you only took one pic of that trip out SHOCKED!!!!

Jonny - I know you get fed up with them if I post too many

[Guest]

no i get a different perspective of you sea boating folk

[pks1702]

Well what a weekend that was for the time of year, you don't get many of those in a pound!

In the company of Kingfisher we headed down after lunch Saturday to one of our favourite anchorages Wrabness; for some relaxation and watch the world go by. We managed to moor to the 'double buoy' again,a most social spot. It was a beautiful afternoon and even the SW F4 died off as the afternoon wore on to leave a perfect evening and stunning sunset.

To cap the evening Rachel put her very considerable culinary skills to use and managed to conjure from Kingfisher's galley the most amazing dinner. Coupled with a few bottles of wine and beer the evening did justice in rounding off a superb day.

We awoke on Sunday morning to thick fog initially I struggled to make out our bow from inside the boat but by just after 10.00am it had improved to 'Pea Soup' The Raymarine Kit really came into its own. On a river you can keep a sense of perspective by hugging a bank, on the wide expanse of sea it is difficult to explain how easy it is to become disorientated without proper nav kit and how easy it would be to get under the feet of 'big stuff'.

David's call to Shotley Marina had me laughing when he tongue in cheek asked if there was any chance of us locking in before we got 'run over'

A really excellent weekend in every way.